No one moves for a minute, digesting what I’ve just said. Will’s eyes flick toward Ian, who hasn’t blinked. Two hours. I was two hours away this whole time.
“Heard you had an interesting afternoon,” David says to Ian, changing the subject as guilt eats at me.
Ian finally takes his eyes off me, grunts, and swallows the food in his mouth. “Yeah, Main Street was full of sheep. Took about four hours to clear all the stragglers, but we got it done.”
“Miller’s or Ryan’s?” Mel asks.
“Bit of both,” Ian says, picking up his water glass.
“Sorry we couldn’t help out,” David says.
Ian waves him off. “We had more help than we needed. Both ranches sent people and dogs, a few of the cattle ranchers too. We had it covered.”
David nods and starts eating. No one mentions the boys’ obvious fight. They’re both bruised and filthy. I can’t believe that at thirty years old, Ian is still starting fights with Will when he gets aggravated.
After a day of riding, I’m starving. I barely taste the food I shovel into my mouth. I don’t pay much attention to the conversation around the table. I know most of the people they’re talking about, but it’s all mindless chatter. I’m exhausted and just want to sleep.
I lean back in the chair, and my eyes close for just a second. Just that fast, the sweet darkness of sleep claims me.
Someone is shaking me, and I jerk awake.
“Shit. Sorry.” My heart is pounding in my ears, my hands jittery.
“It’s alright.” Mel smiles softly at me. “Will you be okay to drive home, or do you want to crash upstairs?”
“No, I’m fine.” I push my seat back, reaching for my plate, but see the table has already been cleared. “I’m so sorry. That was so rude of me.”
“You’re obviously tired. No need to apologize.” She squeezes me in a tight hug. “I’m just so glad you’re home.”
I hug her back just as tightly. “Me too.”
She steps back and cups my face with a smile reaching her warm brown eyes. “So very glad you’re home.”
My palm slides over the back of her hand, nuzzling into the soft touch.
Momma hands me my jacket.
I take it from her and slide my arms inside. “Will, what time tomorrow?”
“Five.”
I grumble, and he smirks.
“See you tomorrow, Wildflower.”
In the corner of my eye, Ian stiffens at the use of my nickname. Will knows exactly what he’s doing, winding up his brother on purpose. I shake my head at the both of them and follow Momma out.
Chapter Seven
IAN
Eva got back almost two weeks ago. She’s been working at the ranch damn near every day with Will and Johnny. I’ve stopped by a few times to check in, and every time I do, they’re flirting with her. It’s driving me nuts. Will’s doing it on purpose to get a rise out of me and it’s working, which just makes me more irritated.
I’ve never been a possessive man. Not once did I care if other men were around the girl I was dating. She would be free to flirt and have a good time, dancing and drinking at the bar. Didn’t matter. But not Eva. All these fuckers swinging their dicks at her is going to drive me straight to the nuthouse.
It’s Friday, with snow on the horizon for next week. These boys will be at the bar, getting rowdy and carrying on. I’m sure there will be a fight or two to break up. It means I’m in for a long night.
I have a few deputies, but everyone works on Friday and Saturday. Every. One.
I’m sitting at my desk, making sure we have everything we’ll need for the incoming snow, when the door opens.
“Hello. Can I help you, sir?” Stacey’s voice carries through the small space.
“Yeah, I’m looking for Eva Rojas.”
My head snaps up, eyes taking in the stranger: tan skin, dark, curly hair, and brown eyes. He’s tall and lean. Honestly, he looks like he could be related to me.
Stacey is stumbling over her words, not sure what to say. Pushing my chair back, I stand, shoving my left hand into my pocket. A deep-seated need to claim Eva hums through my body. I lean against the door into my office, pretending to be relaxed when I’m anything but.
“What do you need with Eva?”
The man looks me over much like I did for him, stopping at the badge on my chest and the gun on my hip.
“It’s personal.” He crosses his arms over his chest.
“Anything you need to say to my wife will go through me first.” The words tumble from my lips, the rightness of them shielding my heart.
“Wife?” His eyes bug out of his head.
Stacey smirks and drops her head to hide it.
“I’m Sheriff Ian Rojas, and you are?” I step forward, offering my hand in a handshake.
“Funny, she never mentioned a husband.” He’s trying to get a reaction from me, catch me in a lie.
“She’s a wild one.” I can’t see my own face, but I can feel how cold my smile is, how hard my eyes are. “Your name?”
“Brad Rodriguez.”
He doesn’t shake my hand; he just tries to stare me down. But I’ve been up against worse. He doesn’t intimidate me.
“How do you know my wife, Mr. Rodriguez?”
He smirks before answering. “I’ve been fucking her for the last six months.”
“Must not have been that good if she came running back to me not two weeks ago.”
Brad stiffens, his shoulders tight with tension, hands clenched into fists.
“Sheriff,” Stacey interrupts, breaking some of the tension. “It’s about time for your next appointment.”
She’s giving both of us a way out, an escape route where bloodshed won’t be necessary. She’s a damn smart girl, but I want this fucker to bleed. How dare he come into my town, asking about my girl. Eva and I will have words about this later.
“If there’s nothing else, I’m going to have to ask you to leave, Mr. Rodriguez.”
“Aren’t small towns supposed to be full of helpful people?”
I smile, but it’s anything but friendly. “Small towns are helpful to the people who live there. Outsiders, not so much.” I walk around him and open the door for him. “We protect our own. No one here will tell you anything about her, but I’ll let her know you stopped by. She’ll call you if she wants to talk to you.”
“She stole my car.”
I pause for a minute, coming up with a plan.
“Alright.” I close the door and go back into my office, picking up the phone and calling my parents’ house.
“Rojas Ranch,” Momma answers.
“Hey. Is Eva there?” I know my tone gives me away; she can tell there’s something wrong.
“I think so. Her car is out front. Let me see if I can find her.”
“No,” I snap. Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly before speaking again. “I don’t need to speak to her. Tell her she needs to clean out the car and have Will drive it to my office. The owner is here to collect the car she borrowed.”
“Alright.” She drags out the word a bit. “Is everything okay?”